The new state park will be second in size only to Big Bend Ranch State Park, shown here on May 26, 2020.
Josie Norris/Staff Photographer
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced Wednesday that it has acquired nearly 54,000 acres in Edwards and Kinney counties for a new state park, slated to become the second-largest in Texas.
The future Silver Lake State Park, located about 150 miles west of San Antonio between Rocksprings and Uvalde, will span rugged Hill Country terrain that includes limestone canyons, caves, creeks, frontage along the West Nueces River and a 30-acre, spring-fed body of water called Silver Lake.
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Once developed, the park will trail only Big Bend Ranch State Park in size.
Gov. Greg Abbott praised the acquisition and said opportunities to explore nature’s wonders are “truly bigger in Texas.”
“With this new land acquisition across the Hill Country, Texans will have access to more than 50,000 acres of unique outdoor activities,” Abbott said. “This future state park will grant generations of Texans with a deeper understanding of the land that helps make our state the natural envy of the world.”
The property was previously owned by the Moody Foundation and the Libbie Shearn Moody Trust. The Moody Foundation gifted its 87.5% ownership interest to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the agency purchased the remainder of the property for $11.85 million using funds from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund and the Sporting Goods Sales Tax.
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“This is an exciting addition to our state park system, and we are grateful to our partners at the Moody Foundation for their philanthropy and for bringing this slice of the Hill Country to the people of Texas,” said David Yoskowitz, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Near one of the most popular state parks in Texas, Silver Lake is sure to become a destination for park visitors and be the backdrop of memories made for generations to come.”
How the park will be funded
Voters approved the creation of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund in 2023. The fund’s $1 billion endowment generates interest, which can then be used to support the acquisition and development of state parks. The interest from the fund can only be accessed through an approval process with the Legislative Budget Board.
Voters also approved an amendment in 2019 directing funds from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax to state and local parks.
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What visitors can expect at Silver Lake State Park
The property was historically used for sheep and cattle ranching, but after assessing its feasibility, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department determined its “outstanding natural and recreational features” made it an excellent candidate to become a state park.
Sycamore Creek, Lost Creek, North Spring Creek, Blue Waterhole and Dutch Waterhole are just a few of the creeks and water features that visitors may eventually be able to access.
Native wildlife in the area include white-tailed deer, turkeys, javelinas and doves. Some aquatic species, such as the greenthroat darter fish, can be found in Silver Lake. Experts believe some portions of the property could also serve as potential habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, a black-and-yellow bird found only in the Hill Country.
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The agency said it plans to develop the park in phases, starting with guided tours and limited day-use opportunities. Meanwhile, planning and infrastructure improvements would pave the way for later phases, including the addition of trails, visitor facilities and expanded recreational offerings like campgrounds and paddling.
No opening date has been announced, but the agency said it would communicate updates about the park’s development as they come.